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We explored this abandoned amusement park in Seoul

Several decades ago there was a popular theme park in Seoul called Yongma Land (용마랜드) - at least until other parks opened nearby, and the park slowly decayed until it shut down permanently. None of the rides are still functional, and the park is no longer open to visitors. But you can still get inside with a ticket, and every day many do. I visited together with my friend Anna, and we explored the park to see what was still there, and what the purpose of the park is.

The post We explored this abandoned amusement park in Seoul appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

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Living History – Bill and Betty Krause (School – 1966, 1968)

Bill and Betty Krause in 1972. (Picture Courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).

One of the great things about running a website about Korean Buddhist temples is that you get to meet a lot of amazing people. And a lot of these amazing people have varying backgrounds, interests, and insights. Rather amazingly, some of these people first visited Korea in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Here are their stories!

Q1: Where are you originally from? Introduce yourself a little. 

A: I was born in Freeport, TX. I moved every year of my life around the U.S. Bill was born in Okinawa. He went to Korea in 1966. 

Q2: When and why did you first come to Korea? 

A: I was 12 when we moved to Seoul in the summer of 1968. We lived in Bay St. Louis, MS. I remember running down the street to my math teacher’s house, Mrs. Ramsey, squealing that I was moving to South Korea! I was thrilled before we even got there. I was in the deep south during the civil rights movements, lost my best friend, had crosses burned in our yard, my friends said you will probably marry a slanty eyed boy (racism)… well I did! My dad worked for the U.S. government, a petroleum specialist. He worked jointly with the U.S. & R.O.K. Airforce. We lived there 6 years, for my entire junior and high school experience, but I know I went to Korea to meet my Seoulmate, Bill Krause! Bill’s dad was in the war in Okinawa, stayed after the war, started a contracting company and rebuilt much of Southeast Asia. He was an invited contractor to Korea.

Q3: When you first came to Korea what city did you live in? Did you subsequently move around? 

A: Seoul! We stayed in the U.N. Village, Hannam-dong. Upon our arrival, we stayed at Walker Hill Resort. We lived off base but went to Seoul American High School. Bill lived in New Itaewon up on Namsan! 

Q4: What was the first temple you visited in Korea? 

A: All the temples and palaces in Seoul. Immediate travel to many areas in Korea with the T.C.C. Club [Travel and Culture Club] in our high school. Bopjusa [Beopjusa Temple], Haeinsa [Temple], Kyongju [Gyeongju], Kwangju [Gwangju] areas, Pusan [Busan], Cheju-do [Jeju-do], all over. When I was a little older, we took off on our own, Bill and I and friends. 

Beopjusa Temple in 1971. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
The 29 metre tall cement statue dedicated to Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha) in 1971. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
From the Palsang-jeon Hall towards the cement Mireuk-bul statue from 1971. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).

Q5: What drew your interest to Korean Buddhist temples?  

A: Growing up all over the U.S., camping and nature were always my peace in a dysfunctional family! I found peace and knew holiness was not small and confined in a church.  

Q6: What is your favorite temple? Why? 

A: Exactly. Why would one have a favorite? HA! Feelings and experiences for me. Bill’s first love was photography, so thankful he captured much of this time period! 

Q7: What temple or hermitage has changed the most from when you first got here? What has           changed about it?  

A: As I see your amazing travel and documenting of temples, I see many changes. In our days, we could freely go in, be welcomed to stay in the old rooms with floor heating. We did not worry about things like carbon monoxide poisoning, etc., and we always ended up in the kitchen. We shared whatever we had in our backpacks, which were heavy military packs, not this lightweight stuff! We were young foreign diplomats in many ways. Those days we would be so remote, Bill’s long hair, we were the Beatle’s to some! 

The forest fire near Pyochungsa Temple in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
The monk Beop helping to put out the forest fire. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
Betty Krause and friends with the monk Beop after helping to put out the forest fire. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).

Q8: What was the most difficult temple to get to? How did you get there? 

A: Pyochungsa [Temple]! Back then, no roads! A small group went there together in the spring of 1973. Bill went with a friend and traveled to remote places, as this was their senior year and he would be graduating from SAHS [Seoul American High School]. We took trains and buses from Seoul. The bus literally crossed rivers and we landed in a village outside of temple. It seemed monks in training were there, as well as some students studying. We stayed days and a forest fire happened. No water or fire trucks, we were all on the mountain using everything we could to put the fire out. Truly life enriching experiences. I met Beop (a Buddhist monk) there and would love to find him. He must be at a temple someplace!

Later that year, 1973, Bill graduated and moved to college in Port Angeles, WA. We were and still are soulmates. A friend and I did an independent study in our Korean Culture class, we were seniors. We chose Pyochungsa [Temple]. We went alone and found our way and stayed. Beop greeted us; and yes, we ended up in the kitchen. We hiked all over, did the least amount of schoolwork as possible! On this occasion we joined in all chants and meditations. We went up high above the main temple, where the deep meditative place was. We knew we were amongst holiness.  I did not like rice, I would sneak my bowl to hide in the mountains. I just know they probably knew this. Then, rice had to be mixed with beans as rationed or food shortages. Hard to verbalize this experience. We passed our class and this friend and I graduated in Jan., 1974 and went to be with Bill. I gave Beop a native American necklace that I was wearing.  

Q9: Did you remain in Korea or did you return home? 

A: I left Korea, Jan., 1974. I graduated from high school. Bill and I returned in the fall of 1981 on a tour. His parents still lived in Namsan. I have not been back. We hope to go again, especially being in Okinawa temporarily. We now live in Tehachapi, CA. There is a beautiful Korean temple, Taegosa [Temple] (Mountain Spirit Center) just down the road. It seems it was built just for us outside of our little town!

The Daeung-jeon Hall at Bulguksa Temple in 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
A woman praying in front of Dabo-tap Pagoda in 1973 at Bulguksa Temple. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
One of the Four Heavenly Kings inside the Cheonwangmun Gate in 1973 at Bulguksa Temple. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
A dragon at Bulguksa Temple in 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
A look towards the Daeung-jeon Hall from the western back courtyard at Bulguksa Temple in 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
A monk at Haeinsa Temple in the spring of 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
A guardian painting at Haeinsa Temple from the spring of 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
The Gugwan-ru Pavilion at Haeinsa Temple in the spring of 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
Sunset at Haeinsa Temple in the spring of 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
An up-close of the “Stone Standing Maitreya Bodhisattva of Gwanchoksa Temple” in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do from the early 1970s. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
The village in front of Pyochungsa Temple in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
Another picture from the village in front of Pyochungsa Temple from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
One last beautiful picture from the village in front of Pyochungsa Temple from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
The Cheonwangmun Gate at Pyochungsa Temple from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
Inside a shrine hall at Pyochungsa Temple from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
A hermitage at Pyochungsa Temple from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
Betty Krause and friends from 1973. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
Betty Krause in Gyeongju in 1981. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).
And another picture from Gyeongju of Betty Krause in 1981. (Picture courtesy of Bill and Betty Krause).

~해 주다, ~해 드리다, ~해 주시다 Doing & Asking Favors | Live Class Abridged

Sunday's recent live stream was about the forms ~해 주다, ~해 드리다, and ~해 주시다, and when and how to use each one. The full live was around two hours but the abridged version is just 9 minutes.

The post ~해 주다, ~해 드리다, ~해 주시다 Doing & Asking Favors | Live Class Abridged appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

Important Hanja: BOTH 량/양 (兩) (한자) | Korean FAQ

Have you ever seen this Hanja used before? 량 (or 양) means "both," but it has a few uses when combined with other characters and is used at the front of a word.

And do you enjoy these Hanja episodes, and would you like to see more? Let me know in the comments!

The post Important Hanja: BOTH 량/양 (兩) (한자) | Korean FAQ appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

Danhosa Temple – 단호사 (Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do)

The “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple” in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do.

Temple History

Danhosa Temple is located in the southeastern part of the city of Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do near agricultural fields and an elementary school. The exact date of the temple’s founding is unknown; however, it was repaired during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon (r. 1674-1720) during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). At that time, it was known as Yaksa Temple, after the Buddha of Medicine, Yaksayeorae-bul. Eventually, the temple would come to be known as Danhosa Temple in 1954. Additionally, Danhosa Temple belongs to the Taego-jong Order, which is the second largest Buddhist Order in Korea next to the Jogye-jong Order.

Danhosa Temple is home to a single Korean Treasure, Korean Treasure #512, which is the “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple.”

The “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple” from 1921. (Picture courtesy of the National Museum of Korea).

Temple Layout

You first approach the compact temple grounds off of a four lane road. And the first thing to greet you upon entering the temple grounds is a beautiful, highly twisted, red pine tree. It’s simply stunning in the way that it bends. And between this red pine and the Daeung-jeon Hall is the “Three-Story Stone Pagoda of Danhosa Temple.” This pagoda, which is a bit hidden behind the side-winding central pine tree, is believed to date back to the mid-Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). The pagoda is made from a single block of stone, and it’s Chungcheongbuk-do Tangible Cultural Property #69.

The Daeung-jeon Hall is adorned with large panel paintings of the Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals) and a separate collection of lotus flower murals. There are two eye-bulging dragons on opposite sides of the main hall’s signboard. Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, your eyes will be instantly drawn to the statue of the “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple” on the main altar. While unnamed in the official listing by the Korean government, it appears as though the “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple” is a statue of Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise). The black statue has an oval face. The ears are elongated, and the three wrinkles, known as “samdo” in Korean, are clearly evident on his neck. The Buddha’s robe is draped over both shoulders. The upper body of the statue is rectangular in shape with narrow, round shoulders and a flat chest. The Buddha has both of his legs tucked up under him, and there are horizontal folds in his robe below the knees. The original location of the statue is unknown, but it’s believed to have first been built around the 11th century. The “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple” is Korean Treasure #512. Additionally, this main altar iron statue is joined on either side by two newer (non-iron) statues of Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion) and Daesaeji-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Power for Amita-bul). The rest of the interior is occupied by a beautiful, modern Gamno-do (Sweet Dew Mural) and a Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural). Both Daeung-jeon Hall murals seem to have been painted by the same unknown artist. There are also a few dozen statuettes dedicated to Gwanseeum-bosal lining the walls of the main hall.

To the right of the main hall is multi-purpose Geukrak-jeon Hall. The Geukrak-jeon Hall at Danhosa Temple certainly isn’t as grand as the Daeung-jeon Hall. The exterior walls are adorned in dancheong colours. Stepping inside this shrine hall, you’ll find a simple triad of statues on the main altar. In the centre rests an image of Amita-bul joined on either side by Gwanseeum-bosal and Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). Also occupying the interior of this shrine hall is a rather rudimentary painting dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit) on the left wall, a mural dedicated to Chilseong (The Seven Stars) on the right wall, and both a Jijang-bosal mural and a Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) on opposite sides of the main altar triad. All pieces of artwork seem to have been executed by the same artist.

Standing next to the Geukrak-jeon Hall is a six metre tall, chipped golden statue dedicated to Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha). This statue was first built on the temple grounds at Danhosa Temple in 1973. Spread throughout the rest of the temple grounds, and mainly to the left of the Daeung-jeon Hall, are a collection of stonework. These statues include a jovial image of Podae-hwasang (The Hempen Bag), a smaller statue dedicated to Mireuk-bul, and a contemplative statue dedicated to Gwanseeum-bosal backing a lotus pond. There’s also a uniquely designed slender five-story pagoda in this area, as well, with manja symbols on each of the four sides of the structure on all five stories of the pagoda.

The only other building on the temple grounds is the administrative office and monks’ dorms located behind the Daeung-jeon Hall.

How To Get There

The easiest way to get to Danhosa Temple from the Chungju Intercity Bus Terminal is to take Bus #610. You’ll need to take this bus for four stops and get off at the “Danwol-dong stop – 단월동 하차.” This bus ride should take about 10 minutes. From where the bus drops you off at the stop, you’ll need to head south and cross over the “Sindae 2-gil – 신대2길” road. The walk from where the bus drops you off to Danhosa Temple is about 200 metres, or three minutes.

Overall Rating: 6/10

The rather obvious highlight to Danhosa Temple is the Korean Treasure, the “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple.” The statue is beautifully executed and well-preserved considering that it dates back to the 11th century. The interior of the Daeung-jeon Hall has a beautiful collection of murals inside it, as well. One other beautiful highlight at Danhosa Temple is the twisting red pine that takes up most of the temple courtyard. While compact in size, Danhosa Temple definitely has its share of highlights.

The temple courtyard at Danhosa Temple.
A look through the twisted red pine tree towards the Daeung-jeon Hall.
The Daeung-jeon Hall at Danhosa Temple.
The main altar inside the Daeung-jeon Hall.
An up-close of the Korean Treasure, the “Iron Seated Buddha of Danhosa Temple.”
The Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural) inside the main hall.
The Gamno-do (Sweet Dew Mural) inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, as well.
The golden Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha) statue and Geukrak-jeon Hall at Danhosa Temple.
The main altar inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall.
The Sanshin (Mountain Spirit) mural and statue also inside the Geukrak-jeon Hall.
The five-story manja pagoda and statue of Gwanseeum-bosal on the temple grounds.
The Podae-hwasang (The Hempen Bag) statue at Danhosa Temple, as well.
And the golden Mireuk-bul statue under a summer sky.

The Putin-Kim Summit is like that Godfather scene of the ‘Commission’ – They’re just Gangsters

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un shaking hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Amur region. Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un are gangsters who rule over mafia states. No wonder they get along famously. Like recognizes like.

Most of the commentary on the meting of Kim and Putin has focused on what they will trade to each other: NK weapons for Russian aerospace tech seems to be the consensus.

But what interests me more is how these two are basically the same type of El Jefe, Big Boss gangster leader. They both run their countries like their personal fiefdoms, and they tolerate massive corruption to tie elites to themselves – or they push them out windows if they speak up to loud. It’s like a Scorsese movie.

And their ‘summit’ is like the Commission meeting scene in The Godfather. Everyone notes this about authoritarian states – how they slide into gangsterism. But I can’t think of any academic IR work on how that impacts foreign policy or alignment choices. The mafia experience does suggest, though, that any alignments are entirely transactional and will be betrayed as soon something more valuable comes along. I could certainly see rank, cynical opportunism being the dominant ethos of a Russia-North Korean pact.

I wrote this all up at 1945.com. Here is my takeaway:

This is a fitting meeting for both leaders. Both govern effectively as gangsters. They rule in the mafia-style, relying heavily on family, friends, and other long-time associates. Both treat political opponents as competitors to be eliminated, frequently with great brutality to warn others against intrigue or deception. Both corrupt the institutions of their own country and the international institutions in which they operate. Both engage in rampant criminality — smuggling, trafficking, and fraud — to raise external funds. Both treat state resources as a personal slush fund.

Read the rest here.

Robert E Kelly
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science & Diplomacy
Pusan National University

@Robert_E_Kelly

 

 

More Time Words 아직/이미/벌써, 곧/바로... | Live Class Abridged

In my recent class on Sunday we learned more words for talking about the time, including words like 아직, 이미, 벌써, and more. The full live stream was about 2 hours long, but the abridged version here is just 9 minutes.

The post More Time Words 아직/이미/벌써, 곧/바로... | Live Class Abridged appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

Living History – Fred Underwood (The Underwood Family – 1957)

One of the great things about running a website about Korean Buddhist temples is that you get to meet a lot of amazing people. And a lot of these amazing people have varying backgrounds, interests, and insights. Rather amazingly, some of these people first visited Korea in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Here are their stories!

Q1: Where are you originally from? Introduce yourself a little.

A: I was born in Brooklyn, NY, but my family is from Korea, my father born in Seoul, my mother born in Pyongyang. The Underwoods have lived in Seoul since 1885 and family members of three generations are buried at Yanghwajin cemetery [Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery]. I spent my career advocating for civil rights, particularly in housing. I first learned community organizing in Chicago, then gradually focused on race relations then fair housing. I spent most of my career building diversity within the real estate profession and its major organization, the National Association of REALTORS®. I met my wife, Katie, at graduate school and we raised two daughters in Alexandria, VA. I attended graduate school because a professor at Yonsei [University] inspired me to get a masters related to urban planning so I could teach elements of local leadership development in Korea in the late 1980’s, however, meeting Katie changed those plans as she and I decided to build our life together in the US.

Q2: When and why did you first come to Korea?

A: I first came to Korea involuntarily as a three year old in 1957. My father had a job with the America Korea Foundation. Since both my parents had been raised in Korea, I never asked why they settled in Korea, thinking it was only natural. My mother’s parents were also in Korea in the late 1950s and through the 1960s. My grandfather Lutz worked for USOM (later US AID), while my grandmother supported and encouraged many local institutions including those which educated blind children.

Q3: When you first came to Korea what city did you live? Did you subsequently move around?

A: I first lived in Seoul, not far from the west gate intersection. In 1961, we moved to Yeonhui-dong near Yonsei [University] to a house my parents built on the Underwood family land. We did spend summers at Taechon [Daecheon] beach (pre-mudfest) but our residence was in Seoul. The house we lived in was demolished by Yonsei [University] about twenty years ago to make room for a new classroom building.

Fred Underwood and his 5th grade class. (Picture courtesy of Fred Underwood).

Q4: What was the first temple you visited in Korea?

A: The first temple I remember visiting was Bongwonsa [Temple – 봉원사] at the foot of Ansan in Seoul. Our fifth grade class took advantage of a field day and walked from Seoul Foreign School over to the temple. I also remember that the bus I would regularly take downtown from the Yonsei gate was the bus from Bongwonsa [Temple]. It is the temple I most often visit, at least once on each trip to Korea. I like that it is an active temple set in a beautiful location with a rich history. The second temple I remember visiting is Chundungsa [Jeondungsa Temple – 전둥사] on Gangwha Island. I liked that it was fortified. When I visited the fortifications were in dismal shape and I decided on that trip that the only think worthwhile was climbing around the dolmen on the north side of the island.

Q5: What drew your interest to Korean Buddhist temples? (Buddhism, architecture, art, history, etc)

A: My interest in Korean Buddhist temples really started in my senior year in high school, though I remember being fascinated with Buddhist architecture while doing research in earlier school projects. In addition, while still quite young, we stopped at Zozayong’s early museum near Cheonan [Chungcheongnam-do].

At Seoul Foreign School there was a tradition for the Senior Class to take a weeklong trip through Korea to be introduced to Korean history and Buddhist temples. We were fortunate in our year to have Kem and Vonita Spencer, Presbyterian missionaries to Cheongju and Seoul, be our chaperones. They shared many stories and historical references to the temples we visited, Gwanchoksa [Temple – 관촉사], Bopjusa [Beopjusa Temple – 법주사], Haeinsa [Temple – 해인사], and Bulguksa [Temple – 불국사]. My favorite on that trip was Bobjusa [Beopjusa Temple], in part due to the long twisted road we had to take in our bus to get there, but also the multistoried building with the Nahan [Palsang-jeon Hall]. The monstrous concrete statue has now been replaced by an even larger gilt one. Following that trip I organized family outings to Tongdosa [Temple – 통도사] and Sudoksa [Sudeoksa Temple – 수덕사], as well as some of the remains of temples on the Sosan [Seosan] Peninsula. The early guidebook, Inns of Korea, provided a little of their history and detailed directions to find these places.

In college, I took a course on East Asian literature (in those days having a course on East Asia was a miracle) and started reading about Korean temples and Buddhist influence, including in “Gale’s History of the Korean People.”

Q6: What is your favourite temple? Why?

A: Defining a favorite is difficult due to the uniqueness of each one. I have visited many on my trips back to Korea and one that I visited just last year Seonamsa [Temple – 선암사] is perhaps my favorite because of the peaceful quiet I enjoyed late on a fall afternoon. But that is not fair to all the others that have equally intrigued me. For me it is a toss-up between Ssanggyesa [Temple – 쌍계사] and Busoksa [Buseoksa Temple – 부석사]. Ssanggyesa [Temple] because I like the gate that is a bridge as you enter. The Dragon inside that gate is fantastic, but the setting along the stream is beautiful. Busoksa [Buseoksa Temple] because it has such an old building at its core and natural features figure so prominently in its design. When I brought my adult daughters to Korea, we happened upon Unjusa [Temple – 운주사] and thoroughly enjoyed the multitude of sculptures throughout the site. Based on the uniqueness of that temple, I found it my favorite on that trip, so much so that we did not make it to Ssanggyesa [Temple]. Lastly, I cannot leave out Yongmunsa [Temple – 용문사] from my recent trip for two reasons: the brilliant yellows of the mighty ginkgo tree and the unique and fascinating tour provided by David Mason. It is at Yongmunsa [Temple] that Korean scholars studied the Christian Bible before missionaries actively worked in Korea. Their study was purely academic. Additionally, my Underwood ancestors used to hike and hunt in the Dragon Gate Mountains.

Bulguksa Temple in 1971. (Picture courtesy of Fred Underwood).

Q7: What temple or hermitage has changed the most from when you were first got here? What has changed about it?

A: The biggest change is Bulguksa [Temple]. When I visited it was in the middle stages of its restoration. The early 20th century work was still what we saw in 1972 and going back in 2017, seeing all the restored buildings almost made it seem a different place. In 1972, we saw old school carpenters carving out the joints for the pillars and beams that became the long corridors defining the spaces within the temple grounds. In the 1970s, I saw many temples undergoing restoration. The other change is with all the temples, they are much more widely visited by tourists, both domestic and international, than before.

Q8: What was the most difficult temple to get to? How did you get there?

When I was young and we visited Gangwha Island and Chundungsa [Jeondungsa Temple], it was an all day excursion requiring a Landrover. First we had to cross over to the island. The bridge was on the north side of the island, and we were going to the temple which is on the southern side, so we had to cross by ferry. Once across we drove up to the temple and had a good look around. On the way down, the Landrover got stuck and my father had to negotiate with a farmer for the use of his ox to pull us out. We made it back to the coast and explored the old fortifications and gradually made our way back to the north side of the island.

Visiting Ssanggyesa [Temple] in 1987 during rainy season was a mistake. The road was being rebuilt and muddy, and the Hyundai Excel was barely up to the task. My trip to Busoksa [Buseoksa Temple] in 1985 involved a train to Yongju [Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do] and bus to the temple. Of course the bus had a flat tire which required seven passengers to advise the bus driver on how to change the tire. After visiting the temple, I was treated to an impromptu concert by several women who had visited, playing their janggu [slim waist drum] and dancing to old folk songs.

My trip to Yonghwasa [Temple – 영화사] on Miruk Island [Mireuk-do] in Chungmu (now Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do) started in Pusan [Busan] taking the hydrofoil to Chungmu and finding a yeogwan [inn] for the night. After finding a bus that took me to the island via an old one lane tunnel and relatively narrow road or wide path, I walked along the road to find the temple. I was treated with wonderful views across the bay to Kojedo [Geoje-do] and enjoyed the small temple as well.

Q9: Did you remain in Korea or did you return home?

A: I left Korea in 1972 for college and except for one trip home during college did not return until 1985. Several trips in the late 1980s were followed by another long drought, with more frequent trips the past fifteen years. I see many Korean American’s in my work and in my daily life, there is even a Korean bell pavilion in a local county park. I ran into the Jangsung master from Hahoe – 하회 [Folk Village] there as he was restoring the Jansung at the park. My next Korean temple I would like to see is Taegosa [Temple – 태고사]. I’ll leave it to you to find out where it is.

Korean Uniform – Vocabulary for school and work attires

In this article, we’ll teach you all about a Korean uniform.

Two boys and two girls wearing Korean school uniforms

You might be curious about what Korean uniforms are called and what they usually look like. Or perhaps you have seen one in Korean dramas and wonder where you could possibly rent one. In this article, we will cover all of that!

Uniforms in Korea

You may have noticed that Koreans have a bit of a thing for uniforms. Of course, they’re not the only country in the world where school uniforms are a norm. And, of course, it’s typical for certain jobs, as well as the military, anywhere you are, to use a uniform of some kind to express their occupation.

But in South Korea, they sometimes also seem to take the idea of a Korean uniform a little further than this! By that, we mean that it is considered fun and popular to wear uniforms even outside of the school and work setting!

For example, some rent a school uniform from a rental shop and wear it to an amusement park like Lotte World. It’s also popular to rent a vintage school uniform and walk around Ihwa Mural Village, taking many gorgeous photos to keep as a memory or to share on Instagram. This activity is not yet as common and popular as renting a hanbok, but it does seem to be an emerging trend.

What are Korean uniforms called?

The Korean word for “uniform” is 제복 (jebok).

Sample sentence

유니폼을 입은 선수들이 입장하고 있어요. (yunipomeul ibeun seonsudeuri ipjanghago isseoyo)

Players in uniforms are entering.

Each different uniform has its own name. Thus, we have included a short list below from where you can find the name of the clothing you’re looking for.

Vocabulary for the different types of uniforms in Korean

All of the vocabulary below will be in Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) with romanized Korean next to it. We recommend learning the Korean alphabet so you can learn these terms faster and have accurate pronunciation.

Being able to read the Korean alphabet will help you retain the core Korean words you should learn first. It will also improve your overall Korean language learning plan.

But if you’re already well-equipped in Korean, let’s head on to the vocabulary!

EnglishKorean
Uniform제복 (jebok)
Uniform유니폼 (yunipom)
Military uniform군복 (gunbok)
Taekwondo uniform도복 (bobok)
Police uniform경찰복 (gyeongchalbok)
Nurse's uniform간호사복 (ganhosabok)
School uniform교복 (gyobok)
Dress uniform예복 (yebok)
Prison uniform죄수복 (joesubok)
Maid's uniform하녀복 (hanyeobok)
Sports uniform스포츠 유니폼 (seupocheu yunipom)
Work uniform작업용 유니폼 (jageobyong yunipom)
Work uniform작업복 (jageopbok)
Work uniform직장 유니폼 (jikjang yunipom)
Change uniform for work근무복을 갈아입다 (geunmubogeul garaipda)

These words are specifically about uniforms, but if you’d like to learn more about what clothes are called in Korean, you can find out more about it in this article: Clothes in Korean

Korean uniforms for girls and boys

What does a typical Korean uniform look like?

Now, what can you expect the typical Korean school uniform to look like? Let’s go through each of the categories below.

Korean school uniforms based on the seasons

Firstly, there are two types of uniforms worn in Korean schools— summer and winter uniforms. There is one uniform worn during the warmer seasons and then a winter uniform for winter and other colder seasons. It is usually announced ahead of time which uniform should be worn and when.

Summer uniforms

The summer uniforms are, of course, lighter and made of thin fabric. A summer uniform is only worn during the summer period, which is thought to take place between May and September. The shirts are short-sleeved, and the skirts are made of thinner fabric.

Winter uniforms

Meanwhile, the winter uniforms feature long-sleeved shirts, while the skirts and pants are made of thick fabric. Winter is considered to take place between November and March. There is also a jacket and a vest included in the uniform. However, jackets aren’t worn during fall or spring.

To learn more about the different seasons in Korea, you can read our separate article: Seasons in Korean.

Korean school uniforms based on gender

Korean school uniforms worn by boys and girls have different designs.

Typically, female students will wear skirts, but they do have the option of wearing pants, as well.

Male students wear pants, and their school uniforms look quite similar to how an office worker may dress for a day of work. A tie is also a common uniform attire.

Korean school uniforms based on the school

Each school has its own color scheme and unique style in their uniforms. The school’s region, level, and status are also an important part of shaping the way the uniform looks. This means, in many cases, you will be able to determine the high schools students attend based on the uniform they wear.

School uniforms are typically worn from middle school to high school. There are some exceptions where elementary school students will also wear a uniform. For example, it is expected in some private institutions.

What is the history of a Korean school uniform like?

It comes as no surprise that the earliest versions of Korean school uniforms were shaped after hanboks. However, already in the first half of the 1900s, the uniforms became more Westernized and, ultimately, what we’re accustomed to seeing now.

Where can you buy/rent a Korean uniform?

Although each school has its unique uniform, students typically buy them themselves. They can be found in department stores but are common to order online nowadays. Before, most Koreans would stitch the uniforms together by themselves.

Uniforms are quite expensive, so it is not uncommon for a Korean student to take good care of their uniform so that they can wear the same one through middle school and high school.

What if you want to rent one for yourself for the day? One example of a shop that rents out school uniforms is Ehwa School Uniform. Located in Seoul’s Jamsil neighborhood, it’s a popular place to go when someone wants to dress up for a day in Lotte World, for example.

It’s actually quite an affordable way to add some extra fun to your day! This particular shop mostly carries modern uniforms, similar to the ones you might see in K-dramas these days. But if you’d like to try on uniforms that are more retro, many other rental shops carry those, too.

Korean uniform in popular culture

Much more so than in many other cultures, school uniforms are popular features in popular culture as well. For example, many Korean dramas take place in a high school setting. That, naturally, means they spend a lot of the drama in high school uniforms!

These dramas are typically directed towards teen audiences, but many older people watch them too and get nostalgic and excited over their school days again. Additionally, some Korean idols and K-pop groups wear school uniforms occasionally as well.

On these occasions, they usually wear the uniforms – either on stage or in a reality show – to appeal to a younger audience and get them more excited about wearing the uniform daily.

If you’d like to know more about other different outfits and fashion in Korea in general, here’s a separate article about that: Korean Fashion

Wrap Up

Is Korean uniforms, school uniforms, in particular, something that interests you? Let us know below in the comments!

Next, how about switching to a different topic and learning about something else that is big and popular in Korean culture: mukbang?

The post Korean Uniform – Vocabulary for school and work attires appeared first on 90 Day Korean.

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